Month: February 2011

“The second step, the KGB head informed Andropov, was a Kennedy strategy to help the Soviets “influence Americans.” Chebrikov explained: “Kennedy believes that in order to influence Americans it would be important to organize in August-September of this year [1983], televised interviews with Y. V. Andropov in the USA.” The media savvy Massachusetts senator recommended to the Soviet dictator that he seek a “direct appeal” to the American people. And, on that, “Kennedy and his friends,” explained Chebrikov, were willing to help, listing Walter Cronkite and Barbara Walters (both listed by name in the memo) as good candidates for sit-down interviews with the dictator.”

Such things happen all the time. Truly not strange bedfellows. Remember this when you start dismissing people who bring you information you think entirely ludicrous. A Senator was ready to help Soviets in any way possible. Several still are – they just call it something else and the young just go back to whatever viral video has caught their synapses.

The rot is deep and wide and this is only part of the reason why you may not be able to vote your way out of it.

We decided to take advantage of the current fuel prices and snagged three large cans full. But better still…

The local grocery had chicken at $1/lb. Bone-in thighs and legs, it was a pretty decent deal. It put me in mind of this fellow’s find though it didn’t even occur to me to ask about a better price on quantity. Trooper will do that tomorrow if any is left.

Managed to get about 20 lbs for friends and 20 for our freezer. Now we’ve a generous plenty in the freezer against higher prices and scarcity. And, yes, we’ve a generator to keep it safe if need be.

Be sure to keep your own eyes peeled for those kinds of deals and take every advantage of them when you can. As for the vacuum sealer (really necessary for these sorts of situations) – we used coupons from Kohl’s to get ours at 25% off and use their other coupons as they come in to restock the bag material. If you’ve one in your area, it’s a worthy investment.

If you know anyone who owns a mom and pop type of gas station, you might want to alert them to securing that fuel. A similar shop in a nearby small town had 800 gallons of diesel stolen in the middle of the night. Yes, obviously someone came with their own tanker and yes, they knew how to do it because the pump numbers weren’t showing what they ought.

It is only going to get worse. Damned glad our associate snagged that 500 gallon tank I found on Craigslist. Looks like a good time to get it filled.

I’ve added a link to a very interesting site, Undaunted. The author is unapologetic about rendering facts relating to the war offshore and how it can be brought here with very little effort, indeed.

Too, there is a lot of good information about self-defense, seeing threats before they become threatening, and some hard-core facts, photos, and tips. Just be warned that there are disturbing items there.

“Governor Walker needs to sign an executive order declaring a State of Emergency and ordering the Senate to come to order. If the Democrats refuse he should then declare their seats abdicated and hold special elections.”

After all, if they have chosen to play the game, then play by the rules, yes – play on.

When one decides to enter into this life, it isn’t without the thought that you might one day find yourself trembling as bagpipes play. In fact, if Trooper wasn’t as highly trained as he is, I’d have been more reticent. But there is a lot of comfort in the knowledge that “this ain’t [his] first rodeo”.

Still, so many troopers perish without anything more going wrong than they didn’t look back often enough at the oncoming traffic as they tried to also watch a car full of people. The mundane death is perhaps only slightly less horrific than that of violent action and reaction.

We had that fleeting touch a few years ago…his call, only a few minutes after he’d left me with a kiss that evening, held too much of that flat tone and simple syllables. Most important to me was that he was okay – bent, bruised, even ventilated was “okay” in my mind then. Breathing, present and staying that way was what I needed to know. A wreck, he had a hard time telling me that it was a fatality. I knew, in a moment, that it had been and felt my mind take that and tuck it aside for the moment. It was a surreal moment in which my brain worked like a computer – if this, then that. Simple toggles being flipped until the course of action necessary was calculated. Pure, cold logic.

Don’t come, he said. As if that was an option. Discarded, my brain demanded more. Where? When? He begged me to be careful driving, his voice cracking. The EMTs took him over and the conversation ended with the wail of sirens. I took time to look at a map, to understand where to go, I grabbed bottles of water and a coat – I didn’t know what to bring. And without another thought I left. I recall now that my usual poor night vision was sharp, that every turn was remembered. I drank a bottle of water, knowing that the adrenalin was going to make me feel like shit before long.

I had to pass the scene on the way – I took the shortest glance to just assess my access point – I had to get around it and didn’t want to announce to all there who I was in order to get by.

At the hospital – you know the kind: go there if you are dying then get the hell out as soon as you can – I pulled into the driveway for emergency vehicles, directed there by his friend with the EMT service. I wanted to park out of the way, even then trying to be considerate. I asked snipped questions. Is he okay? Was it a fatal? Can I see him now? I was all business and I think it might have stunned them. On the way in, the sea of uniforms surprised me. Curt nods to them as I passed, a kind of recognition and thanks. And the briefest smile and handshake with the woman who offered her card – for when he was ready to talk about it or if he needed help later.

It was a small room off to the side near the entrance and it was full of people. My eyes did a survey – small specs of blood as though cuts from shaving on his face – broken glass, of course, though I wasn’t sure at the time. He was doing okay – there was a bit of a deer in the headlights look to his face but he was processing. His good friend was there and spoke to me quietly as the medical personnel finished up with him. His wife was in the lobby so I took the time to go see her, knowing it was late and she deserved to know why they’d had to hustle into town.

She was very kind. I spoke quietly to her, my own quaking starting as my nerves began to feel again. I did not have time to cry, having shed only a few tears at the sight of him, and she made me feel too sensitive with her feminine kindness. Dear friends…

I marched back through the “No Access” doors to his room in time to see a rather uncomfortable encounter which I shall not detail here because there were lawsuits, of course, and that bit of business was so tasteless and crass that I will be too unkind in the retelling. I wanted him out of there – but there was a bit more to be done. A final touch of disgrace as they had someone come take blood to ensure he hadn’t been impaired. We knew it was just a formality but it was a bit too much of an echo of his duties…that crossing of the line. It was then I met a high ranking member of DPS who was there to give us comfort. He was so…solid. He exuded quiet competence and I was equally steadied and suspicious. It must be bad, I thought, if he is here. I think it was only then that my mind permitted that thought to enter – yes, it was bad. It would be bad for awhile.

The drive home was also strange – he wanted to drive out of habit and I barked out a laugh. I reminded him he had calls to make. I was hoping he’d reach his brother – who never answered his phone. I passed him the bottle of water which he gulped down. Smart, he said. Most people don’t think about that. Home, I think I had him shower before we spoke. And we talked a long time. But it was months before he told me everything…and years before it was all settled and he could safely see the lady whose card I was passed. Only then was he able to start letting it go. Only then was it safe to talk about it, and find a way to live without it in his mind every day.

It was a very close thing, you see. His vehicle took the blow in the front post passenger side. Just 2 inches – just 2 damn inches – and I’d have been telling a different story. So I have the barest sliver of idea of what this man is feeling as he tries to do his duty. To make words fit around a thing still too brittle and sharp.

This video ought to be played in every single leadership class and every recruiting drive. Never has a man given so much of himself so publicly…so much severe honesty…please, ride it through. I know it’s 20 minutes of your day. Get a cup of coffee, some Kleenex, and give it – give yourself – those minutes. You will learn lessons no matter what you do or who you are.

No, we never believe it will happen to us. You can’t and still do the job. But I try to never let him go without a kiss. Or in a bad mood. One more kiss might have prevented all the above, after all.

It is the one thought that I never let go – just one more kiss and it wouldn’t have happened. My own penance…